Radios for farmers

Before, when animals got lost there was virtually no chance of finding them. Now that we have our radio, we can issue a simple alert for FCFA100 (less than 0.20) and, very soon, you have your animal back explains one Nigerian livestock farmer from Filingué, around 100 km north of Niamey. Farmers in Bankilaré, a small and remote village in the far west of Niger are equally enthusiastic. Both locations are now served by a Canadian-designed radio kit which weighs about 20 kg and consists of a broadcast unit, a set of solar panels, a microphone and two radio receivers. The broadcasts reach villages in a radius of 20 to 30 kms. Thanks to support from the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), Niger now has almost 80 such radio units.Before, when animals got lost there was virtually no chance of finding them. Now that we have our radio, we can issue a simple alert for FCFA100 (less than 0.20) and, very soon, you have your animal back explains one Nigerian livestock farme